I wanted a salad that would harken back to earlier times. When I could walk into a diner, order a burger, some fries, and a salad. This copycat classic diner chef salad reminds me of the salads the waitress would grab out of the little fridge on the counter by the pass to the kitchen. They were usually behind glass doors that slid open. Covered in plastic wrap, they were made fresh every morning. And they always hit the spot. Just like this one. And I always got it with Ranch dressing. Even though they had French. Maybe there were other dressing choices but my brain always stopped once it heard ‘Ranch’.
Diners And Salad Bars
Whenever I get lucky enough to find a decent salad bar at a restaurant, which is kinda rare these days, I end up making a copycat classic diner chef salad. Not just because it’s easy. It has all of my favorite things on it. From fresh mushrooms to ham to bacon to green onions. For me, it’s the perfect combination.
There used to be a Ruby Tuesday restaurant by our house that always had the ultimate salad bar. And some of the best Ranch dressing around. I sure miss it. But to make up for it being gone, and there being no good diner’s near me, I made these at home.
It might seem a bit odd, but I think freshly-shredded cheese is a must on a salad. You want fresh vegetables, why not fresh cheese? That pre-shredded stuff isn’t as creamy. And it’s not as tasty. So I always take the few extra minutes to shred my own.
Copycat Classic Diner Chef Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 head iceberg lettuce cleaned, cored, sliced or shredded as desired
- 1 ounce cheddar cheese shredded
- 12 cherry tomatoes rinsed, halved
- 1/2 small onion white, red, or sweet, sliced into rings
- 1/2 cup mushrooms rinsed, sliced
- 1 medium carrot peeled, sliced or shredded
- 1/2 medium cucumber peeled, sliced
- 4 large eggs hard-boiled, peeled, halved
- 4 slices bacon cooked, chopped
- 4 green onions rinsed, sliced thin
- 1/4 cup ham diced
- Kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Assemble your salad by dividing the lettuce between four plates.
- Add remaining ingredients and season well.
- Serve with your favorite dressing.
